@Yet Another DBA

For years, I did all my work in ErWin, which is a good ERD tool, and I very seldom used SQL code for designing databases. Mind you, I was engaged in doing high-level design at the time and the mapping of corporate data, and only did the first cut of the physical model from the ERD, but it has given me a great respect for the power of the ERD. I really would recommend diagramming the database model for as long as possible in the course of development. You can always use the diagrams in the subsequent documentation.